Recently we have been experiencing a lot of kind friendliness. This is a term Nan uses when I am grumpy. She will say “I need your kind friendliness.” I know what she means. My grumpiness tends to translate into a more critical or negative behavior.

We have been dealing with quite a few new people as we set up a vacation cabin. What we have experienced is a lot of genuinely nice people. What makes them that way? Is it just good customer service training? I don’t think so. I believe it goes deeper than that.

The attitude might be a result of living in a less densely populated area. Or perhaps it might be the result of being in a community where people need to rely on each other much more because of fewer options. We have experienced this kind of attitude in rural Hawaii also. The people take time with each other. They are not in a hurry to move on. As our pastor would say, there is not the mindset of “chop, chop, get it done!” In Hawaii they pause to “talk story.”

I experience this “kind friendliness” at church all the time. I believe it is because we genuinely like our church community and we have intentionally cultivated this attitude towards each other. I am not sure we have slowed down to the extent that we have been enjoying at the cabin location, but it seems a marked contrast to the busy Los Angeles culture.

I wonder how many relationships lack kind friendliness? Yes, I am talking about the romantic types, but also other kinds as well. Sometimes I treat strangers better than I do family members. I smile more and am more patient with them. I might respond defensively that I am more “real” with people that are closer to me, but does that actually mean that I should treat them with less kindness or respect?

It is true that close relationships require us to develop more resiliency. The more intimate the relationship, the more necessary it will be to give and receive forgiveness readily, particularly for small offenses. But I want to draw as little on the goodwill that exists as I am able.

Things I can do to promote kind friendliness:

Ask for what I want, not what I don’t want or like.

Watch my tone. Do I sound harsh, critical or cold?

Use the “sandwich” technique: affirmation – request – affirmation.

Smile, make eye contact while communicating, assume positive intent from the other person.

Holiday seasons are particularly vulnerable to stress related behavior. It’s a great time to practice kind friendliness.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT) “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

Share this:

Like this:

OK, I know you’re asking “Why in the world would he put those two subjects together – especially now when we are just post election? ” Well, to answer your question, we are also just post (another) premarrieds class and it got me thinking.

There is all this campaigning that goes on prior to “the big event”. A lot of promises get made that honest candidates hope they can fulfill. But the truth is that many of them really don’t know what is actually possible until they step into the job. I think that may also be true of couples that get married. They might believe they can deliver on their pre-marriage promises or agreements, but once they get into the pace of marriage, especially when kids are in the picture, it might be a real challenge.

Engaged she says: “I’ll probably want sex 4 or 5 times a week.”

Married with 2 kids she says: “Tonight? Are you kidding me?”

Engaged he says: “I intend to share the housework evenly.”

Married with a stressful job he says: “I need to relax. You don’t realize how hard I work all day.”

It’s at this point that a lot of spouses feel betrayed, or at least disappointed. I want to reassure you that this is normal. This is idealism giving way to reality. So what should a husband or wife do?

Renegotiate

If you have ever been through the process of buying a house or running a business you will understand the need to leave certain aspects open to renegotiation. There are circumstances that you cannot know until you experience or discover them. The parties involved must believe that they are getting a fair deal. Marriage is no different.

Some people have a really hard time with compromise, but along with forgiveness, it is the secret to a great marriage. I, of course, am not talking about moral compromise, but the day-to-day adjustments that have to be made in order to maintain a marriage’s equilibrium. As is often said, if you cannot bend, you will break.

The key to being able to compromise is developing empathy for the other person. Do you seek to understand, or only to be understood? Can you see a situation from their perspective as well as your own? I know it’s hard, sometimes really hard and “unfair”.

Your spouse never held the “office” of being married to you before saying “I do”. If you can remember that then maybe you can forgive some of those broken campaign promises.

Proverbs 3:13 Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.

Share this:

Like this:

Guest post by Brooklyn Pugmire

With each generation, I have noticed a change in the way dating is approached. In my grandparents’ generation, it was “courting”. The fine gentleman would ask the lovely lady out to dinner or a movie and tell her exactly why. Example: “Why hello there, I find you to be beautiful and I am curious to know if your heart has all the same qualities. Can I take you out this Friday at 7 pm?” BAM. Mission is understood.

My parents’ generation was similar, just a bit less formal. Example: “Hey! You’re cute and fun and sweet, let me take you out!” Again, I understand what is being asked here.

Let’s fast forward to now. Example: “Hey, we should meet for coffee sometime and talk more.” Uh okay cool. I guess we are going to meet up and hang out then. So…is this a coffee date? I guess I’ll have to wait and see if he pays, but if he pays, is he just being a gentleman? If I invited him, would he expect me to pay? Why are we meeting? He can’t pick me up? Is it because he thinks I might be a psychopath? Is he actually interested in me? Is he attracted to me? Ohhhhhh No. Wait. This is networking. I can’t believe it. He just networked me.

Personally, as a single girl in a world of single boys, I like the straightforward approach just like in my grandparents’ generation or even my parents’ generation. When did it become dangerous to compliment a lady and then continue with asking her out on a date?

I personally think a “networking” date is an easy way out of being rejected and is just plain confusing for both parties. If it was a normal date, it would only take one or two dates to realize if you want to continue. On a “networking” date, it will take two or three “outings” just to figure out if it’s a date or not.